What we do

We work with local partners and herder communities, the front line in preserving the biodiversity of Central Asia’s high mountains by providing technical and financial assistance for activities linked to stewardship and biodiversity conservation.  Our programs build community ownership of projects, long-term self-reliance, and ecosystem health.  We involve communities in non-invasive baseline research on snow leopards, their prey and habitat, blending western science with indigenous knowledge.

Why we do it

There is less and less land for the wild animals in our world.  Saving this iconic species has been our life’s work.  Our task is to help local communities keep livestock depredation from snow leopards at a manageable level while increasing incomes and strengthening stewardship of alpine ecosystems. We will know we have done our job when Central Asia’s herders recognize and act upon the greater worth of having a live snow leopard rather than a pelt of one that took their livestock.

What are the challenges

Working in so many different countries and in such remote areas leads to difficulties communicating with our in-country partners.  Travel is slow and arduous.  Additionally, politics and authorizing agencies with varied regulations can impede conservation. There is also a lack of conservation training in many of these countries as that has not been a priority.  Poaching, mining, and retaliation for killing of livestock, are direct threats to the existence of the snow leopard.